Tested by dad Ralph Cator for the M&B Awards 2016:

Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow parent?

This product looks like it's really good quality and I particularly liked the colour of it, which was different to the usual reds and blacks. I would recommend this as a car seat to others, and I liked the fact that the sea tipped back quite a way, which is important for kids on long journeys.

How does this product make your life easier as a dad?

It was really easy to adjust the headrest and the straps on this car seat as they should be. Some seats can be very awkward but this was dead simple.

If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?

The car seats has little pockets on either side of it, but I think that if it had an actual cup holder it would make it even better than it already is.

Tested by mum Clare Mechan for the M&B Awards 2016:

Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?

I like this car seat and would recommend this to any of my friends with small children. The design is sleek and the colours are sharp. The seat is filled with comfortable padding and provides the support that my child requires during our car trips. The 5 point harness makes me think that safety is at the forefront of this design and fills me with the confidence that my child is safe and secure. The fact that the seat can stay with my child from birth to seven years old, means that is it great value for money.

How does this product make your life easier as a mum?

Because the seat is designed to last for a considerable amount of time meaning that once you have bought this, you will not have to buy another. The seat provides the confidence that my child is safe and secure and therefore makes my life easier.

If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?

I would not change much about this product. The 5 point harness is a little fiddly until you are used to it so maybe just use the classic 3 point.

Tested by mum Milli Thompson for the M&B Awards 2016:

Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?

The Joie stages car seat is a product I would definitely recommend to friends. It looks good, is easy to operate and is good value for money.

How does this product make your life easier as a mum?

The joie seat is easy to adjust which makes life easier for me as sometimes give lifts to friends’ children. I really like the air holes at the sides as my kids have always got really hot in their car seats.

If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?

If there was one thing I could change would add a drink holder.

Tested by dad Tom Hillier for the M&B Awards 2016:

Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow parent?

I think this is a very good car seat. It looks really comfortable and both my kids were really happy in the seat. It is really nice and wide and there is lots of room in the seat for them. It isn't restrictive at all which I think is wonderful. It sits easily in the car and easy to secure. The head-rest and cushions can be removed and adjusted easily to accommodate all ages. The cushions look comfortable and can be wiped down. It is a nice simple design, without branding screaming at you. It is a reasonable price as well given that it looks like a high quality product, I thought it could have been more money that it is. I rate this seat very highly and would definitely recommend it to a friend.

How does this product make your life easier as a dad?

A nice comfortable seat, that isn't too enclosed. It has a brilliant recline position. My daughter’s head used to always flop forward in her old seat, but not at all in this one. A godsend for long journeys. She also uses the side pockets to fill it with her many tiny toys she wants to take everywhere with her. This is a very comfortable seat with a great recline position, which means a happy traveller.

If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?

I think a cup holder is a good feature especially for the other kids. My daughter complained because when I adjusted the head-rest so it wasn't fully pulled up but not in the lowest position it meant the cushion behind her back doubled up and I think pushed into her back. It meant it wasn't smooth on her back, so I had to have the head rest in the full height position to avoid this.

Tested by Charlie Fuller for the M&B Awards 2016:

Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow parent?

I would recommend this product to my friends with young family. The product feels robust and secure once fitted. The padding within the seat is supportive and provides comfort for my child during journeys in the car. The seat fits in the car well and does not take up more than one seat in the car leaving the other seats free. The pockets on each side of the seat are useful storage areas and the colour scheme is eye catching. The harness is secure although the 5 points seem a little excessive.

How does this product make your life easier?

It is a comfortable and secure car seat that my child is at ease inside. They fall asleep 5 minutes into a journey and therefore not causing me any issues during the trips. The seat is relatively easy to fit into the car and light to handle meaning that it take little time.

If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?

This is a good product and I would not change anything considering its versatile ability.

Tested by Chris Pain for the M&B Awards 2016:

Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow parent?

I really like this car seat and would recommend it to my friends that require one. The idea that the seat can be both forward facing and rear facing is a real bonus giving me both the safety option and the ability to change it depending on the vehicle I am fitting it into. It is relatively easy to fit into the car and only takes up one seat space leaving the rest for other passengers which is useful. The padding and support provide my child with great comfort and gives me the confidence that they are both safe and comfy. The harness is sound and clearly is designed with both safety and comfort in mind which has been achieved.

How does this product make your life easier?

The car seat is easy to install into the car is not too heave to lift and manoeuvre with 1 hand. The rotation of the seat means that the seat I only have to buy 1 seat that will last a lot longer than having to buy 1 that faces the rear and then another, later on, that faces forward.

If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?

I would not change much about this product, it has been developed well and provides all that is asked of it.

Tested by Nick Morgan for the M&B Awards 2016:

Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow parent?

Seems very comfy and had no complaints with children in it and more sleeping than normal - mainly good. I only was able to use the front facing but the rear option is good. Good reclining positions although setting it is annoying unless I missed something, but as with most seats safety seems high priority. Fabric allows easy cleaning and not too many gaps for food to drop into.

How does this product make your life easier as a dad?

Child comfort is excellent which stood out most and allows for quiet driving.

If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?

Change the recline system so can switch between more easily.

2015 – Top Award for Car Seat Group 1!

The Joie Stages Car Seat is a multistage car seat with a prolonged rear-facing option. It adjusts with ease and although the provided instructions aren’t entirely user-friendly, an internet search will throw up helpful videos that will make a simple job of fitting the seat.

It is nicely padded and comfortable, and comes with a newborn insert that is great for small babies but a bit awkward for larger babies, who end up in ‘scooped’ position. The chair features a breathable knit fabric that wipes clean (the cover is also washable) and a sandwich foam headrest that offers maximum head support. It is solid, quite bulky but safe and sturdy. Lasting up until 7 years, Joie’s product is good value for money.

2015 – Shortlisted for 'Best Car Seat 0+' Award!

The Joie Stages car seat is a versatile product that is suitable for both babies and toddlers, adapting easily between different age groups.

In principle, it’s easy to install, even without ISOFIX functionality (although lack thereof might be off-putting for some parents), and adjusts without hassle. A lot of seat belt length is required and the seat belt does cross the front of the chair, which can get in the way when trying to but a child in the seat but it is well made, with nice, comfortable material that can be wiped clean (the covers can also be removed for washing).

The seat is quite large but light and doesn’t seem to take up an excessive amount of space in a car. It has both front and rear facing functionality. It also lasts until a child is 7, which makes the product not only good but great value for money!

2014 – Top Award for Multistage Car Seat!

Suitable from birth until 7 years of age with an extended rear-facing seat function (up until 4 years/18kg), the Joie Stages Car Seat is amazing value for money. It's easy to install – changing easily between front and rear facing, and not too bulky in the car. .

It adjusts with ease and although the provided instructions aren’t entirely user-friendly, an internet search will throw up helpful videos that will make a simple job of fitting the seat. It is nicely padded and comfortable, and comes with a newborn insert that is great for small babies but a bit awkward for larger babies, who end up in a ‘scooped’ position.

The chair features a breathable knit fabric that wipes clean (the cover is also washable) and a sandwich foam headrest that offers maximum head support. It is solid, quite bulky but safe and sturdy.

The newborn insert is lovely and snug and yet the seat is spaciously comfortable without it, and there is also a nifty recline feature. Adjusting the headrest also adjusts the harness straps (a great idea!) but adding something to keep the straps out of the way when putting baby in would be useful. Overall, a superb product that offers safety at an affordable price.

2014 – Innovation Award!

The Stages Car Seat by Joie is designed to properly support and protect children from birth up until the age of 7. The seat prolongs the rear facing option for babies and includes a padded insert for newborns.

The installation instructions are particularly clear but once you’ve figured things out (there are helpful videos online!) the seat fits securely into the car and fastens easily. The extra padding makes the seat quite bulky, taking up a lot of room in the car but perhaps worth it for the enhanced protection? It adjusts to size without difficulty and is comfortable for children of all ages. It’s also easy to clean.

A smart, solid design that will last as your child grows – this product is great value for money!

2014 – Shortlisted for 'Best Specialist Car Seat' Award!

The Joie Stages Car Seat lasts from birth until seven years and is easy to convert to the different stages. It installs simply even though it’s not an ISOFIX and is not too heavy. The seatbelt adjusts without hassle and the product offers extended rear-facing functionality (up until the age of 4). It also has lower sides, which makes the seat great for sibling interaction.

The product is soft and mostly comfortable but the headrest seems a bit high, and slightly awkward – pushing little ones’ heads forward when asleep. The headrest is adjustable but alteration affects the height of the seatbelt, which might cause a whole new set of problems. For this reason, the seat is likely better suited to older children; for babies, the most reclined position is too reclined and the next level up is too upright for comfortable sleeping. It’s also a quite a big seat, which could be a challenge for smaller cars.

There are a couple of design issues but it’s a sturdy product that grows with your child; overall, good value for money!

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Comments

GuestS - 18/08/2015 18:55

I was a bit disappointed to discover that this won a Mother and Baby Award. I bought this car seat earlier this year and returned it immediately after finding out that it is on the "Which" "Don't Buy" list as it did really badly in their independent safety tests (which are more rigorous than the industry standard). I was very disappointed at the time as for all of the reasons outlined above this seemed like a great buy for the price but safety first and after reading the "Which" review I didn't feel I could keep the sear.

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Moo - 03/09/2015 12:49

Its actually the old model that is a which don't buy. Which does actually say that been updates since their review. Very confusing as they haven't changed the name of the seat just made the changes